Falcons Nest - Sept. 15th
Falcons Soar in the 2023 Fall Season
Varsity Girls Golf
After a long wait to start the season’s competitive schedule, the girls golf team had a strong start at their first match, the inaugural Carmel Girls’ Shootout at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC. With an impressive -3, sophomore Rachel Joyce shot a 68 to take solo 2nd in a very competitive field. The team finished with strong scores and claimed a 2nd place finish. Great work ladies and congratulations on your first match in the books for the 2023 season.
The Lady Falcon Golfers played their first dual match against host Union Pines on Tuesday. The O'Neal team dressed all ten golfers and in partially cloudy weather notched their first win of the season. Medalist Sofi Afable led the team with a score of 77 and Rachel Joyce and Natalia Henderson were close behind with 78's.
Captain Lauren Kuhn and Kayleigh Goins were right on their heels, both recording 79's. The Falcons have a heavy schedule for the next two weeks. Let's play some golf!
Middle School Volleyball
Opponent: | Scores: |
Berean Baptist | 25-19, 25-3, 25-7 (win) |
We began the week with a decisive win against Berean Baptist in 3 sets. We served 93% as a team and did a great job maintaining our energy and intensity throughout the match. Wednesday was our first intrasquad match and it was awesome to watch the entire middle school program come together to play and support each other. Thank you parents for coming out to cheer for the players! Today marks the halfway point in the season as we play against Village Christian and next Monday we begin the second round of conference games.
JV Volleyball
Opponent | Set 1 | Set 2 | Match |
Berean Baptist | 18-25 | 21-25 | L |
Although they ultimately fell short of victory, the JV Volleyball team continues to find their rhythm on and off the court. The first set of the match was a testament to the JV team's potential. They burst onto the court with determination, taking control of the game with accurate serves, smart passes, and some of the best attacks this season. As the set progressed, their energy seemed to wane, allowing Berean Baptist to make a comeback and clinch the set. The second set presented an even more challenging scenario for the JV Falcons. Early errors led to an overall lack of energy and team spirit on the court. At one point the Falcons were down 2-14. A timeout with some substitutions and a chat to end the set with energy and teamwork turned things around allowing the Falcons to burst back into the game and the Bulldogs were scrambling to keep their lead. It ultimately was too little too late, as the Falcons fell 21-25 in the second set, but they were able to see their potential when they worked together as a team. As they continue their season, the lessons learned from this match will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for the team's future endeavors.
Middle School Cross Country
Varsity Cross Country
Varsity Volleyball
Opponent | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Match |
Berean Baptist | 25-18 | 25-23 | 25-12 | W |
In an exhilarating home contest, the O'Neal Varsity Volleyball team displayed their resilience and skill, securing a victory over Berean Baptist in three unique sets. The first set was marked by a tenacious battle, with O'Neal maintaining a steady lead throughout, ultimately winning 25-18. The second set posed an early challenge as O'Neal found themselves in a 10-0 deficit, but their unwavering determination propelled them to stage a remarkable comeback, taking the lead at the 22nd point and securing a nail-biting 25-23 win. In the third set, O'Neal dominated from behind the service line, cruising to a convincing 25-12 win, sealing their impressive overall victory and leaving their fans in awe of their outstanding performance. We had a big night from our 3 captains, Elise Milligan and Victoria York both executed 5 ace serves each along with Michaela Stone contributing a whopping 13 kills on the night! The team has been preparing all week for the formidable Village Christian away game this Friday at 5:15 pm.
Middle School Boys Soccer
Away Game—Berean Baptist Academy
The Middle School Boys Soccer team traveled to Berean Baptist Academy, on Monday. They were quick to grab control in this game, scoring two goals in the first ten minutes as they immediately put the Berean goalie under pressure. As subs came in, they maintained O’Neal’s intensity and grew the lead to 4-0. A penalty kick in the second half allowed Berean to close the gap to 4-1, but O’Neal responded a minute later extending the lead to a comfortable 5-1, where it stayed until the game ended. It was a true team effort as every player logged at least 20 minutes of playing time. It was also great preparation for the boys’ Friday matchup against last year’s league champions, Village Christian.
Varsity Boys Soccer
With a thrilling display, the O'Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer Team soared to a resounding 9-0 victory in their recent clash against Berean Baptist. The match showcased stellar performances across the board, from an impenetrable defense to a relentless attacking front. Here's a closer look at the standout moments and key players that defined this remarkable win.
The Falcons' defensive line was an impenetrable fortress throughout the game. Alex Martin, Jacob Graham, Brennan Hodges, and Oliver Oldroyd delivered outstanding performances. Their unwavering commitment to protecting the goal was instrumental in securing the shutout victory. Controlling the tempo of the game with finesse and precision, the midfield trio of Max Pashley, Gavin Natt, and John Yonkovich demonstrated exceptional ball control and distribution. Their ability to dictate play and transition seamlessly between defense and attack kept the Falcons firmly good position. Boyd Kenny led the charge in attack with determination and skill, consistently threatening the opposition's defense. Jacob Slagle and Andrew Davis provided further firepower to keep the scoreboard ticking. Their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities ensured a commanding lead for the Falcons. Andrew Pavlovich and Jacob Bates stood tall between the goalposts, combining for the shutout. Their quick reflexes exceptional shot-stopping abilities and their overall presence in the net instilled confidence in the entire team. Finally, the contributions from the bench were equally significant. Joseph Lucas and Jack Habets injected fresh energy and enthusiasm into the game, keeping the momentum firmly on the Falcons' side. Their willingness to step up when called upon showcased the depth of talent within the team.
The O'Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer team's next game is scheduled for September 15th, away at Village Christian Academy at 6:00 pm. Stay tuned for more exciting soccer action from this formidable team!
Varsity Girls Tennis
On Monday, September 11, the Lady Falcons played a tough match and came away with a 1-8 loss to a very strong team, Trinity Academy. Lots of competitive play and big congrats to Brooke Greenblatt and Ava Taylor Walker for pulling out a doubles win 8-1!
Tuesday, September 12, the Falcons came roaring back with a big win against The Burlington School 7-0. It was a full sweep in singles before doubles was cut short by rain. Congrats to the following Falcons on their singles win: Charlie Bunder, Brooke Greenblatt, Ava Taylor Walker, Ava Simmons, Mia Franco, and Sydney Davis. Charlie Bunder/Brooke Greenblatt won their doubles match right before the storms hit.
Middle School Cross Country
This week was an exciting one for our MS XC runners! Our runners competed in a meet at St. John Paul and showed up and showed out. This was a fairly difficult course as it was a 2-mile route instead of our usual 1.8 race route. Our team preserved and gave it all they had!
Running cross country is not easy. Our goal is to guide our students to be dedicated and for them to demonstrate perseverance when the going gets tough! We are enjoying watching their commitment grow and seeing them begin to push themselves to their limits. This in turn will improve our individual and team performances. We also stress how important supporting one another is. All in all, we want our runners, with each stride, to embody the spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork, making our school proud. This upcoming week we are looking forward to training for our next meet at Haw River Academy on September 28.
Varsity Cross Country
O’Neal’s cross country team poured their hearts and souls into a week of relentless training, pushing their limits despite not having competition this week. Through tempo runs, and hard workouts that tested both their endurance and mental resilience, our cross country girls and boys exemplified unwavering dedication. Our student-athletes have forged bonds that run deeper than the miles they’ve covered, motivating one another through every stride. While they may not have raced against opponents this week, they’ve raced against themselves, striving for personal growth and excellence. As we look ahead, we have 2 very exciting meets coming up the next 2 Saturdays. This week we run in the Adidas Invitational at Wake Med followed by the Hare and the Hound race in Charlotte next week. This team’s relentless spirit and unyielding commitment are the foundation for our next two high-end meets.
Photos by Wendy Hodges
Photos by Wendy Hodges
Falcons Sports Next Week (9/16-9/22):
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | EVENT TIME |
SAT | 9/16/2023 | Fall Sports Clinics | VB | HOME | 9 am-11 am |
MON | 9/18/2023 | Northwood Temple | MS BSOC | HOME | 3:30 PM |
MON | 9/18/2023 | Northwood Temple | MS VB | HOME | 3:30 PM |
TUE | 9/19/2023 | Berean Baptist | MS BSOC | HOME | 3:30 PM |
TUE | 9/19/2023 | Berean Baptist | MS VB | HOME | 3:30 PM |
TUE | 9/19/2023 | Northwood Temple* | BSOC | AWAY | 4:00 PM |
TUE | 9/19/2023 | Northwood Temple* | VB | AWAY | 5:00 PM |
WED | 9/20/2023 | Fayetteville Academy | JV VB | HOME | 4:00 PM |
WED | 9/20/2023 | Fayetteville Academy | VB | HOME | 5:15 PM |
WED | 9/20/2023 | North State at Keith Hills | Girls Golf | AWAY | TBD |
THU | 9/21/2023 | Cary Academy | Girls Golf | AWAY | 12:00 PM |
THU | 9/21/2023 | Fayetteville Christian | MS BSOC | AWAY | 4:00 PM |
THU | 9/21/2023 | Fayetteville Christian | MS VB | AWAY | 4:00 PM |
THU | 9/21/2023 | Harrells Christian Academy | GTN | AWAY | 3:30 PM |
FRI | 9/22/2023 | Fayetteville Christian* | BSOC | HOME | 4:00 PM |
FRI | 9/22/2023 | Fayetteville Christian* | VB | HOME | 5:15 PM |
FRI | 9/22/2023 | Fayetteville Christian* | JV VB | HOME | 4:00 PM |
FRI | 9/22/2023 | Grace Christian School (Raleigh) | GTN | AWAY | 3:30 PM |
FRI | 9/22/2023 | Hare and Hound – McAlpine | XC | AWAY | 3:15 PM |
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